After a long weekend in Byron Bay, where coffee alternatives are available in every imaginable flavour, and with the temperatures here in Australia finally starting to fall, it seems fitting that this instalment of Wellness Essentials, focusses on one of our favourite topics....healthy, hot beverages!

Move over Chai...this year it's all about Turmeric Lattes, Matcha Tea and Mushroom Coffee!

Turmeric Latte

Turmeric Lattes (also known as Golden Milk) are being hailed as a super elixir by clean eating celebrities and health bloggers worldwide.

While the health benefits of Turmeric have been well known in India for centuries, it's only recently become really popular in other parts of the World. Known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties, turmeric also activates the happiness hormone, serotonin.

The Turmeric Latte, is a great way to harness these benefits, as it includes the fats (milk and/or coconut oil) and black pepper required to make the curcumin (the good stuff!) in turmeric more bioavailable. Luckily, a good Turmeric Latte also includes honey and other things like cinnamon to make it taste great too!

Matcha Tea

﻿Matcha Tea isn't new, but it's definitely still growing in popularity. Everywhere you look there seems to be a new product on the market that includes this antioxidant superfood.

So, what exactly is Matcha?

Matcha, is a special type of powdered green tea. The green tea leaves are shaded from the sun for the last few weeks of their growth, increasing the chlorophyll content and creating a gorgeous green color. Then, the leaves are carefully ground with stone grinding wheels to produce a fine powder. Unlike other types of teas, the green tea powder is not strained out before consuming, so you are consuming the entire leaf, making Matcha more potent than other tea varieties.

Mushroom Coffee

According to The Food Republic, Mushroom Coffee is the next step in all-natural, antioxidant-fortified caffeine fixes. Mushrooms contain high levels of antioxidants and other compounds that may enhance your focus and thinking capabilities. Studies have suggested they’re great for lowering anxiety and supporting the adrenal glands.

According to Finnish entrepreneur and 13th-generation farmer Tero Isokauppila, founder of Four Sigmatic, it’s an excellent way to fortify your morning boost. In fact, he’s on a mission to make the world’s healthiest coffee. By adding dried matsutake mushrooms that have been boiled and liquefied into an extract — mushrooms must be cooked to reap the health benefits — the resulting coffee contains extra nutrients and minerals.

We're not sure we'll be seeing Mushroom Coffee alongside the Turmeric Lattes and Matcha Tea in our local cafe anytime soon, but who knows?